Identity Play through Pets in the Short Stories of Juan José Millás

Koh, Selgie (2025) “Identity Play through Pets in the Short Stories of Juan José Millás”

http://dx.doi.org/10.21811/EH.114.39

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ABSTRACT

Juan José Millás, born in Valencia in 1946 and having moved to Madrid as a child, has lived there ever since. He is a Spanish writer who has been active since 1975. The transfer and exchange of identities, driven by the postmodern deconstruction of borders, is a phenomenon that often appears in his work. This study analyzes five short stories by Millás that focus on pets as a central theme. First, we will examine the history and current status of pets, as well as their presence in both world and Spanish literature. We will then explore how Millás incorporates animals in his work. In summary, Juan José Millás uses pets, like other objects, to engage in identity play, such as exchange, transfer, and division of identity.